[12.07.11] “The freedom of association at European level is both a fundamental right of the European citizens and an active component in the emergence of a European public sphere.”

The quote is taken from the manifesto launched Tuesday by European Civil Society Organisations. The manifestocalls upon the EU to take action for the creation of a single Statute for European Associations. The quote speaks the words of the Association for Community Colleges (ACC).

The manifesto comes in the middle of the EU debts crisis and shortly after more countries’ attacks on the Schengen spirit. Both phenomena carry EU divisive tendencies. They are now framing the manifesto’s call for the option of European associations’ collective and transnational voices.

MEPs Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE-NGL), Marc Tarabella (S&D) and Regine Bastos (EPP) are some of the frontrunners in the EP for the European Association Statute. They were also co-organising the vernissage of the exhibition “We volunteer”, where the manifesto was launched Tuesday. The vernissage took place in the EPs Spinelli Building in Brussels.